SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (SAMRC)

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Cape Town

Job Reference Number: R963A

Department: Research Capacity Development

Business Unit:

Industry: Office Support

Job Type: Contract

Positions Available: 1

Salary: Market Related

The SAMRC’s RCD division is seeking to appoint a Project Coordinator to take responsibility for managing a portfolio of awards in the RCD grant and career award programmes.

Job Description

The SAMRC’s RCD division is seeking to appoint a Project Coordinator to take responsibility for managing a portfolio of awards in the RCD grant and career award programmes funded by the SAMRC. The incumbent will also provide administrative support to the Programme Manager for all RCD grants and career award programmes.

The incumbent will report to the Programme Manager and will be responsible for the following strategic and core areas:

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of research capacity development grants and career development awards, ensuring effective pre- and post-award administration.
• Liaise with beneficiaries, host institutions, and key stakeholders to support programme implementation and compliance.
• Monitor progress award, review technical and financial reports, and provide recommendations to management.
• Coordinate grant disbursements, review meetings, and programme documentation.
• Facilitate the administration of funding opportunities, including Requests for Applications (RFAs), peer review processes, and award approvals.
• Support the preparation of funding agreements, award communications, and management reports.
• Collect, analyse, and report on programme outputs, achievements, and performance indicators.
• Coordinate stakeholder meetings, workshops, and events, including logistics, meeting documentation, and action tracking.
• Contribute to the development of reports, presentations, website content, and other stakeholder communication materials.
• Ensure accurate record-keeping and compliance with organisational policies, funding requirements, and governance processes.

Contract Duration

• 1 year

Location

• Cape Town

Remuneration

• A salary in the region of R537 033.00 per annum, cost-to-company, will be negotiated in consideration of experience and qualifications.

Job Requirements

Core Requirements:

• 3-year relevant tertiary qualification in a science discipline or similar qualification or higher
• At least 1 to 2 years of experience coordinating/ managing projects and grants (i.e. proven project management skills)
• BSc Honours degree or equivalent in a biomedical science or related discipline
• Demonstrated experience working in a public funding and/or research environment or similar, managing or coordinating projects, grants, fellowships or scholarships.
• A good understanding of the public research environment and capacity development

Closing Date

• 1 September 2026

PLEASE APPLY HERE

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Pretoria

Job Reference Number: R961A

Department: Research Capacity Development

Business Unit:

Industry: Office Support

Job Type: Contract

Positions Available: 1

Salary: Market Related

The SAMRCs Research Capacity Development (RCD) Division is seeking a dynamic Project Coordinator to manage a portfolio of SAMRC-funded scholarship awards and support the effective delivery of programmes aimed at developing South Africa’s future research workforce.

Job Description

The South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC) Research Capacity Development (RCD) Division is seeking to appoint a Project Coordinator to take responsibility for coordinating a portfolio of scholarship awards funded by the SAMRC. The incumbent will also provide administrative and coordination support to the Scholarships Manager across all scholarship programmes.

Key Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Scholarships Manager, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following strategic and core areas:

• Project Management: Administer a portfolio of scholarship awards by ensuring compliance with award conditions, managing disbursements, monitoring progress, reviewing technical and financial reports, and maintaining accurate project documentation.
• Programme Administration and RFA Facilitation: Support the facilitation of Requests for Applications (RFAs) under the guidance of the Programme Manager. This includes coordinating selection and approval processes, liaising with applicants and institutions, preparing award letters and funding agreements, and contributing to programme reports and statistics.
• Stakeholder Liaison: Coordinate and participate in internal and external stakeholder meetings, workshops, and events. This includes assisting with logistical arrangements, preparation of agendas and meeting materials, drafting of minutes, monitoring action items, and contributing to communication materials such as reports, presentations, and website content.

Location of the Position

• Pretoria

Contract Duration

• 3 years

Remuneration

• A salary in the region of R624,773.00 per annum, cost-to-company, will be negotiated in consideration of experience and qualifications.

Job Requirements

Core Requirements:

• 3-year relevant tertiary qualification in a science discipline or similar qualification or higher
• At least 2-3 years’ experience coordinating/managing projects and grants or scholarships (i.e. proven project management skills)
• Proven experience administering funding, stakeholder communication and coordinating meetings

Advantageous:

• BSc degree in biomedical or health sciences field
• Demonstrated experience working in a public funding and/or research environment or similar, managing or coordinating projects, grants, fellowships or scholarships
• A good understanding of the public research environment and capacity development
• Preferably demonstrated experience in working across academia, government departments, industry, and philanthropy
• Experience in using research management systems, such as RIMS or REDCap, supported by successful completion of relevant training courses

Closing Date

• 1 September 2026

PLEASE APPLY HERE

SPECIALIST SCIENTIST

Cape Town

Job Reference Number: R960A

Department: Health Systems Research Unit

Business Unit:

Industry: Research

Job Type: Permanent

Positions Available: 1

Salary: Market Related

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) invites applications for an experienced Health Economist to lead the Health Economics Focal Area within the Health Systems Research Unit (HSRU), based in either Cape Town or Durban.

Job Description

We invite applications for an experienced health economist to lead the Health Economics Focal Area at the Health Systems Research Unit (HSRU). HSRU is an intra-mural research unit at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) that supports evidence-based decision-making in health and social policy to strengthen health systems to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). The position will involve engaging stakeholders across government and all relevant communities to identify research priorities, will lead collaborative grant writing and grant management in the field, support the development of national, regional and global health economics research to advance and strengthen health systems, services and policy. This individual will lead or co-author peer reviewed articles and present research findings at key meetings, conferences and workshops. They will collaborate across HSRU, SAMRC and other research institutions to advance their field. Their role includes coordination and project management of the Focal Area, commitment to capacity development and transformation including student supervision, and contribution to the HSRU and SAMRC leadership and citizenship activities.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Health Economics Focal Area within the Health Systems Research Unit.
• Develop and implement a strategic health economics research programme that informs health policy and strengthens health systems.
• Initiate, lead and manage innovative research projects and multidisciplinary collaborations.
• Secure external research funding through competitive grant applications.
• Produce high-quality scientific outputs, including peer-reviewed publications and technical reports.
• Translate research findings into policy, practice and decision-making processes.
• Build and maintain partnerships with government, academia, funders and other stakeholders.
• Mentor and supervise postgraduate students and emerging researchers.
• Contribute to the leadership, administration and strategic objectives of HSRU and SAMRC.

Location of the post

• Cape Town or Durban

Duration

• Permanent

Remuneration

• R1,290, 482 per annum

Job Requirements

Minimum requirements

• PhD in health economics or PhD in public health or related health field with health economics focus
• 7 years’ experience in health economics research.
• Principal investigator of successful income generation/grant application of = R 600 000 (Note: funds raised as a co-I/PI on a sub-project are not counted, neither are non-research funds such as conferences, course fees, etc.).
• Record of 20 lifetime publications (ISI journal articles, editorials or book chapters and technical reports) with at least 6 as first/senior author.
• Successfully supervised =4 post-graduate students to graduation.
• Record of translating professional, scientific or clinical expertise, new knowledge and research findings into public understanding, policy, and/or practice, in order to improve health.
• Experience in leading research project(s), including mentoring and managing a research team.
• Experience in budgeting, financial and risk management.
• Excellent interpersonal relations and communication skills.

Advantageous:

• PhD with an undergraduate qualification in health economics, public health, and/or clinical epidemiology
• More than 10 years’ experience in health economic research
• Excellent track record in grant writing and fund raising for health economics research
• Management of project staff on research projects
• Participation in technical committees nationally or globally applying economics principals to inform healthcare decision-making

Closing Date

• 4 September 2026

PLEASE APPLY HERE

RESEARCH CLINICIAN/ COMPETENT RESEARCH CLINICIAN

Durban

Job Reference Number: R887A

Department: HIV and other Infectious Diseases Research Unit

Business Unit:

Industry: Research

Job Type: Contract

Positions Available: 1

Salary: Market Related

The SAMRC’s HIV and other Infectious Diseases Research Unit (HIDRU) is a large, dynamic research unit conducting HIV-related clinical trials in six clinical research sites in Durban. The Unit contributes towards finding an HIV vaccine and optimizing pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV infection amongst men, women, mothers and children. Studies on HIV treatment and Tuberculosis are also conduct

Job Description

The SAMRC’s HIV and other Infectious Diseases Research Unit (HIDRU) is a large, dynamic research unit conducting HIV-related clinical trials in six clinical research sites in Durban. The Unit contributes towards finding an HIV vaccine and optimizing pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV infection amongst men, women, mothers and children. Studies on HIV treatment and Tuberculosis are also conducted.

The Unit is committed to building the next generation of clinician scientists through a dedicated career progression pathway for clinicians. The post holder will assist with and form an integral part of the SAMRC’s transformation agenda. The Unit seeks to appoint dedicated, industrious, persevering, passionate, committed and motivated clinicians, with relevant clinical experience in infectious diseases (HIV, Tuberculosis, Sexually Transmitted Infections, COVID-19 etc), medical emergencies, and primary healthcare, who are interested in pursuing a career in clinical research. The incumbent will work with existing Principal Investigators, Clinical Site Research Leaders and Clinicians to manage the clinical aspects of phase I-IV research trials and could work towards building a research career. Training opportunities include support for pursuing higher degrees such as master’s or PhD. The Unit also strives to appoint clinicians in line with the Unit’s transformation goals.

 Responsibilities

Clinical and safety management:

• Perform clinical activities related to the trial including clinical assessments, specimen collection, laboratory results review, oversight of the safety of study participants, determination of clinical eligibility, and administration of study product
• Conduct clinical interviews and administer study questionnaires
• Follow up, assess and manage Adverse Events (AEs), Expedited Adverse Events (EAEs), and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)
• Undertake after hours and weekend work as required
• Rotate across clinical research sites and provide back-up where and when required.

Clinical document management

• Complete all required study-related documentation according to the study protocol, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) requirements.
•  Document and report AEs, EAEs, and SAEs,

Quality / File Management

• Conduct regular quality control checks to ensure accuracy of clinical data collection and good quality data
• Write reports as required

Capacity development

• Train new clinicians and nurses and capacitate the research team at site level and within the Unit

Research outputs

• Contribute to unit documents and publications
• Assist with the conceptualization of new research ideas
• Work towards leading new research projects within the unit

Duration of Contract: 2 Years

Remuneration: The salary will be negotiated in line with qualifications and relevant work experience.

Job Requirements

• MBChB degree with Internship and Community Service completed
• HPCSA Registration
• MPS or equivalent Subscription (can be joined if successful)
• Knowledgeable in the treatment and management of common ailments and sexual transmitted infections (STI)
• Computer Literate
• Must be willing to work across multiple sites based on project needs
• Own reliable transport
• Valid driver’s license

Advantageous

• Clinical research and GCP training
• Clinical trial experience
• Experience working in HIV or infectious diseases
• Experience supporting Principal Investigators in study implementation
• Experience contributing to protocol developments and grant applications

Closing Date: 28 August 2026

PLEASE APPLY HERE